Rack or shelf for refrigerators, ovens, and the like



Dec. 22, 1942.

L. A. YOUNG 2,306,202

RACK OR SHELF FOR REFRIGERATORS, OVENS, AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 16, 1940 T T? 1 P W 5 5 1 1 W L T P r: g

5 Lfiw I NVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 22, 1942 RACK OR SHELF FOR OVENS, AND

Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich. Application November 16, 1940, Serial No. 365,879

12 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a rack or shelf well adapted for use in refrigerators which has the required strength and at the same time uses a relatively small amount of material in proportion to its strength and one which permits a very free circulation of air through the shelf and consequently around th items supported by the shelf.

Second, advantages and the additional advantage of being of such character that different types of food containers may be easily moved about thereon or placed on or removed from the shelf.

Third, to provide a structure in which the parts, joinedby welding are so conformed as to facilitate Welding and also insure effective weldmg.

Fourth, to provide a structure of this character in which, owing to the shape and arrangement of the parts, suitable strength and rigidity is provided with a relatively small amount of material considered from the weight or mass standpoint.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a refrigerator rack embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 2-2 of -1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is especially designed for use as a refrigerator rack or shelf.

Refrigerator racks or shelves become very objectionable in the case of corrosion or the chipthe required cost range.

The structure comprises a border frame I preferably having opposed side members 2, 2 and end members 3, 3 formed integrally. I do not illustrate the joint but it will be unders ood that to prqvide a shelf or rack having these REFRIGERATORS,

THE LIKE the frame is preferably made of a single piece of stock with the ends butt-welded together.

The frame is provided with an inwardly projecting welding flange 4 which is continuous, providing uniform strength and also uniform appearance. This frame is of horizontally fiattened section and provided with an external groove 5 serving the double purpose of an omamental groove or breaking up the outer side of the frame and also reducing the, amount of stock required.

This frame is, in the preferred embodiment, formed by rolling from stainless steel, stock of substantially uniform diameter. This enables the forming of the rim or frame of the desired section or shape and also results in work-hardening and stiffening the material.

dirt or the like holding the are disposed in'spaced parallel relation, these grid members having quarter twists 1 adjacent each end thereof, providing relatively short attaching portions 8 which are welded to the flange I of opposite -frame members. These grid members are disposed with the edges of their body portions vertically, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated are provided with inwardly curved sides 9 and outwardly curved top and bottom edges III, the inward side curves being joined to the outward edge curves by reverse curves; This shape or cross section is carried into the attaching members 8 and serves a desirable function in providing spaced welding zones I I, as shown in Fig 4.

The thickness of the welding flanges 4 and of the grid members is substantially the samewhich further facilitates effective welding. By providing the grid members with spaced welding zones not only is more effective welding secured by insuring an effective directing or localization of the air currents but also the possibility of the effective joint being prevented by accumulation of members in such spaced relation as to prevent effective welding.

These grid members are also preferably formed of stainless steel stock of uniform diameter which work-hardening stiffens the same and at the same time they are conformed to the desired shape or cross section to effectively sustain the load.

There is the further advantage in this arrangement namely, that the grid members present a minimum amount of resistance to the flow of air through the rack, and owing to the shape and arrangement of the parts, racks of the required strength may be produced from the relatively expensive stainless steel and at the same The grid members 6 sistance when cost as compared to other the market andhavinga the rack or moved ticularly desirable with cartons, considerable difflculty in moving them about.

By providing the grid members of the cross section indicated they 'are, as stated, effectively welded and by forming the grid members and the welding flanges or substantially the same thickness welding is further facilitated and effective joints made more certain without the exercise of excessive care on the part of the workman.

One of the advantages of the structure is that it may be used either side up. It is sometimes desired to provide shelves ins ledge and in that from the position shown situations, it is desired that the grid members be substantially flush with the frame and in such case the structure is used with the side up shown in the drawing. In this position the structure also has the appearance of greater width which is sometimes desired.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations of my invention as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shelf or rack, the combination of a rectangular border frame of horizontally flattened section having an inwardly projecting flange constituting a grid welding flange, said frame being fabricated of work hardened stainless steel stock. and grid members of flattened section paper containers and portionsbeing merged into .the outward curves of the edges by reverse curves, said grid members being disposed in spaced parallel relation and having quarter twists adjacent the ends thereof providing relatively short attaching portions, such attaching portions being welded to the flanges of opposed 7 grid members being fabricated of work hardened stainless steel stock.

2. In a shelf or rectangular border tened section having rack. the combination of a frame of horizontally flat an inwardly projecting flange constituting a grid welding flange, and grid members of flattened section with their edges vertically and having inwardly curved side portions and outwardly curved top and bottom edges, the inward curves of the side portions being merged into the outward curves of the ed es by reverse curves, said grid members being disposed in spaced parallel relation-and having quarter twists adjacent the ends thereof providing relatively short attaching portions, attaching portions being welded to the flanges of opposed members of said frame.

3. In a shelf or rack, the combination of a rectangular border frame having an inwardly projecting flange constituting 8- grid welding flange, and grid members of flattened section about thereon. This is parwith a retainshelf is inverted members of said frame, 'said' such one of the objections found being the in spaced paralleL-relation with their edges vertically and having quarter twists adjacent the ends thereof providing relatively short attaching portions, such attaching portions being welded to the flanges only of opposed meming a zone of reduced vertical thickness providing spaced raised zones facilitate said welding.

4. In a shelf or rack, the combination of a border frame having opposed members provided with inwardly projecting flanges, and grid members of flattened section dispose in spaced parallel relation, said grid members having inwardly curved side portions and rounded top and bottom edges, the inward curves of the side portions being merged into the outward curves of the rounded edges by reverse curves, said grid members having quarter twists adjacent the ends flanges ofsaid opposed frame 'bers of flattened thereof providing relatively short attaching members. said attaching members beingwelded to the members, the inward curve of the inner sides of the attaching members providing spaced welding zones for the attaching members and flanges.

5. In a shelf or rack. the combination of a border frame having opposed members provided with inwardly projecting flanges,

section disposed in parallel relation, said grid members having inwardly curved side portions and rounded top and bottom edges, the inward curves of the side portions being merged into the outward curves of the rounded edges by reverse curves, said grid members having quarter twists adjacent the ends thereof providing relatively short attaching members, said attaching members being welded to the flanges of said opposed frame members.

6. In a shelf or rack, the combination of a border frame having opposed members provided with inwardly projecting flanges, and grid members of flattened section disposed in spaced parallel relation with their edges vertically, said grid members having quarter twists adjacent the ends thereof providing relatively short attaching members. said attaching members being welded to the flanges of said opposed frame members and being provided with a portion of reduced vertical thickness defining spaced raised zones engageable with said flange to facilitate said welding, the said flanges and grid members being of approximately the same thickness thereby further facilitating welding operations.

'7. In a shelf or rack,,the combination of a border frame having opposed members provided with inwardly projecting flanges, and grid members of flattened section disposed in spaced parallel relation with their edges vertically, said grid members having quarter twists adjacent the ends thereof providing relatively short attaching members, said attaching members being welded to the flanges of said opposed frame members and being provided with a portion of reduced vertical thickness deflning spaced raised zones engageable with said flange to facilitate said welding;

said flange, the vertical thickness of said end and and grid memflange being substantially equal to facilitate welding and said end being recessed on the flat horizontal edges thereof to provide spaced welding zones which are welded to the flange, opposed sides of said grid members at the medial portion of the latter being respectively substantially flush with one surface of said frame and substantially depressed relative to the surface of the frame opposite said first named surface.

9. In a shelf or rack, the combination of a rectangular border frame having an inwardly projecting grid welding flange and grid members of relatively flat section disposed with their edges vertical and extending transverse said frame and flange, said members being provided with twists adjacent the end thereof to dispose said end horizontal and in overlapping parallelism with said flange, the vertical thickness of said end and flange being substantially equal to facilitate welding and said end being recessed on the flat horizontal edges thereof to provide spaced welding zones which are welded to the flange.

10. In a shelf or rack, the combination of a rectangular border frame having an inwardly projecting grid welding flange and grid members of relatively flat section disposed with their edges vertical and extending transverse said frame and flange, said members being provided with twists adjacent the end thereof to dispose said end horizontal and in overlapping parallelism with said flange, said end being secured to the flange, opposed sides of said grid members at the medial portion of the latter being respectively substantially flush with one surface of said frame and substantially depressed relative to the surface of the frame opposite said first named surface.

11, In a shelf or rack, the combination of a rectangular border frame having an inwardly projecting grid welding flange and grid members of relatively flattened section disposed with their edges vertical and extending transverse the frame and flange, said members being provided with twists adjacent the ends thereof to dispose said ends in parallelism with said flange, said ends each being recessed to provide spaced welding zones which are welded to the flange, opposed sides of said grid members at the medial portion of the latter being substantially flush with one surface of said frame and substantially depressed relative to the opposite surface of the frame.

12. In a shelf or rack, the combination of a rectangular border frame having an inwardly projecting grid welding flange and grid members of relatively flattened section disposed with their edges vertical and extending transverse the frame and flange, said members .being provided with twists adjacent the ends thereof to dispose said ends in parallelism with said flange, said ends being recessed to provide spaced welding zones which are welded to the flange.

LEONARD A. YOUNG. 

